Print

---

The Records of Early English Drama (REED) project is pleased to  
announce the launch of a new partnership project with the BBC, the  
British Library and Dr Siobhan Keenan at Simon De Montfort University.  
The project is titled ?Shakespeare on Tour?, involving the broadcast  
of over 200 stories across all BBC Local Radio stations and regional  
television in England and at bbc.co.uk/shakespeareontour. Shakespeare  
on Tour includes stories that are all linked to specific places across  
the country as part of a season of BBC programming to mark 400 years  
since Shakespeare?s death in 1616.

This unique and ambitious broadcasting event will uncover surprising  
stories about where Shakespeare?s plays were performed, along with  
other iconic moments such as the first black actor to perform  
Shakespeare on the British stage, the rise of the female star and  
notable Shakespearean child actors It also charts locations where  
Shakespeare?s acting companies performed before 1642 - a number of  
which survive to this day.

To help bring these stories to life, the BBC has been working closely  
with the British Library to unearth stories from their historic  
collection of theatre playbills relating to Shakespeare performances  
across the UK, and with the Records of Early English Drama.

Craig Henderson, Head of Programmes, BBC English Regions, said: ?This  
unique project brings together on-going academic research as well as  
stories of Shakespeare performances told through original playbills  
from the late 18th century onwards. For audiences, this will create a  
rich collection of stories relating to locations of performances of  
Shakespeare?s work, starting with his own troupe of performers, to  
highlights from more recent times.
The stories reveal familiar places from all corners of the country in  
a new and fascinating light, places that we might drive or walk past  
every day without realising their historical resonance. Audiences will  
be able to discover factual details about their local town halls, pubs  
and private houses around the country where Shakespeare?s plays were  
performed; how much Shakespeare?s players were paid; and the project  
will travel forward from the late 16th century to track other iconic  
moments such as the first ? and controversial - appearance of black  
and female performers on stage.?

The stories are now available online at bbc.co.uk/shakespeareontour  
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03fcz11) where they can be enjoyed  
for many years to come.

Circulated by Sally-Beth MacLean
REED Director of Research/General Editor